Logan Hitters Stahl Out Against SWIC

March 21, 2015

BY JOHN D. HOMANLogan Media Services

CARTERVILLE – Sophomore lefthander Ty Stahl turned John A. Logan College batters every which way but loose Friday afternoon, taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning as Southwestern Illinois scored four runs in the second inning and hung on to defeat the Volunteers, 4-3, in the first game of a three-game Great Rivers Athletic Conference series.

With the loss, Logan falls to 4-3 in the league and 6-6 overall. The Blue Storm improves to 6-5 overall, 3-2 in the league.

Listed at 5-foot-7, 180 pounds, Stahl had the Logan hitters off balance all day, striking out five and allowing no hits through seven innings.

With one out in the eighth, Logan freshman Nate Tholl lined a single into center to break up the no-no. The hit advanced Austin Rieman, who had walked, to second base. Another freshman, Bailey Schimpf reached on an infield single to load the bases. Jake Carpenter then grounded into a fielder’s choice, driving in the Vols’ first run of the game. Austin Nunnery then relieved Stahl and got Kyle Schneider to ground into a field’s choice to end the inning.

Logan mounted a comeback effort in the bottom of the ninth. Culver Plant walked. He advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jeff Hahs singled to center to drive in Plant. Zach Sparks relieved Nunnery and got Doug Parks to ground out to third for the first out. Tyler Horchem then singled up the middle to drive in a run, making the score 4-3. Pinch hitter Kenny King then hit into a double play to end the game.

Vols head coach Jerry Halstead was frustrated with the loss.

“Offensively, we weren’t very good, I’d even say non-competitive for eight innings. Their guy (Stahl) has a no-hitter going, while throwing about 80 miles-per-hour,” he said. “When you only put pressure on the other team one or two innings in a nine-inning game, you aren’t going to win very much, even with the pitching that we have.”

Taking the loss for the Vols was freshman starter Matthias Dietz. He surrendered all four runs on six hits in his second inning of work. Freshman Bobby Pennington relieved and was outstanding, hurling six shutout innings on three hits. He struck out three and walked three. Tyler Bialeschki worked a perfect ninth, fanning two.

The Vols travel to Belleville today for a noon doubleheader with the Blue Storm beginning at noon.